Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 6, 1932. 1.. 1. BECKWITH REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29,1931 Inventor:

Loza's Fee 'w' 8%, b mmi I fltiys.

- ceiling with consequent danger of toppling Patented Sept. 6, 1932TUNE-TED STATES 'rA rsNroF- icE A A,

- LOUIS I. IBECKWI'EI-I, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS nnnnrennn'rrne ArrRArus Application filed October 29, 1931. Seria1-No.-571, 733.

This invention pertains to refrigerating ap paratus and moreparticularly to a supportingstrut or column adapted to carry coolingcoils orother parts of the refrigerating equipment as well as to supportthe upper wall or ceiling of the refrigerating chamber. The

present invention constitutes animprovement usually done under normalroom temperature conditions and at the time of installation thecolumnsare adjusted to the proper length'so that their uppertoothmembers bite into the ceiling and the columns are caused to sustainthe desired load, but when the compartment is-cooled themetal'columnscontract more rapidly than the nonmetallio walls of the chamber, thusloosening their grip on the over unless care is taken to turn the uppersection of each column so'as toextend it sufliciently to compensate forthe contract-due to" cooling. When after such extension the room isafterward warmed, the extended columns may expand suttlciently to buckleor crack the ceiling or cause other damage, and-thus-care mustbetaken-to shorten the columns as the room temperature rises. While suchadjustment is possible and practical it=-involves f sometime and careand 1s sometimes'neg lected, with attendant injurysuch asjust suggested,and the present invention is designed to obviate the necessity ofmanually Varying the column length to compensate for temperaturechanges; To -thisendI provide a heavy spring or-equivalent, yieldingmeans capable of transmittingthe maximum normal load from the columncap, for example to the upper section of the column, although Icontemplate the interposition of the sprin at any other appropriate,point inthe lineor compression stress, such spring yielding to'abnormalload imposedby rising temperature and expanding as the column shrinks,due to decrease in temperature. In

a preferred embodiment of the invention the" length of this spring issuch that the spring pressure does not vary substantially in re sponseto the very small changes in length to which it'is subjected.

stall the column in the usual manner, rotating the upper'sectionrelatively to the lower section until the retaining teeth on the col-"umn cap bite into the ceiling and thecolumn carriesthe desired load.Thereafter no fun With this arrangement it is possible to intherattention is necessary since the column automaticall regardless 0temperature variations.

In Fig. lIhave illustrated a preferred maintains itsv proper length;

embodiment of' the invention, the main portion of the column beingshownin elevation and the cap in section;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified construction; and

Fi 3 is a vertical section of a columncap of a further modifiedconstruction. A single column such as shown in Fig. '1 or in Fig. 2 mayserve as one of the corner or intermediate structurally interconnectedvertical members of'a framework adapted to support refrigerating appa tuThe co-lumnof Fig. 1 is shown as including between its upper andlowerparts af' horizontal web of an angle bar 33v which may connect thecolumn to the nextlikecol-f umn in front or rear thereof; A transverselyextending beam 38' may connectthis angle bar 31 to a like structuralelement of the" framework; this beam 38 and other like parallel beamssupported by the several col-' umns of the framework may serve as thesupports for the cooling coils or other refrig-' present invention anexplanation of one of the several-vertical columns of'such a structurewill'suflice. V

Below the horizontal flange -of shown'in Fig. -'1, and as described inmy ap crating apparatus. For the purposes ofthe 7 angle bar f 33 the,column may for example comprise, as

plication Serial Elm-544,023,211; closed top sleeve 47 slottedvertically" betweenv flanges 49- and '51 which are adapted to *bedrawn 1together-bybolts 52 and 53. This sleeve 47 embraces a lower upright tube4:6, which is shown as engaging within a cup-shaped member 4 of atwo-part base 4, 9. The two parts 4 and 9 of this base, loosely heldtogether by a rivet 6, have relative freedom of motion on a slightlycurved meeting surface, such that the lower base member 9 may conform toa floor 10 even though the latter slopes; the column will in general bedisposed as nearly vertically as possible.

Above the horizontal flange of angle bar 33, the column ofFig. 1preferably employs a cup-shaped member 54, fastened in place by a rivet57, to receive the lower end of an upper rotatable part 14 of thecolumn, as described in my application Serial N 0. 544,023. r i

To contact with the ceiling 11 of the room or chamber, a cap 37 isprovided at the top I of the column, this cap preferably having ahorizontal flange 36 at its top adapted to be engaged with the ceilingwithout necessitating alteration of the ceiling. Arranged to react onthe cap and on the lower part of the column respectively, is a coilspring 60, shown in Fig. 1 as engaging the lower side of adepressedinner annular portion 36 of the cap. For supporting the springand connecting it to the member 14 of the column there is a collar 62threaded on the screw threads of member 14 and bearing against thelowest convolution of the spring 60. The cap 37 is preferably providedwith a depend ing tubular sleeve 39 which laterally encloses the coilspring 60 and extends down to the member 62. To secure the cap 37 andmember 62 against rotation relative to each other, 'the'lower part ofextension 39 is preferably provided with slots 63 and 64, into whichproject lateral extensions or ears 65 and 66 respectively, integral withmember 62.

It will now readily appear that the spring 60 is capable of compensatingfor the expansion and contraction of the column as a whole causedjbychanges in the temperature of the room or chamber. The compression ofspring 60 may be adjusted by rotation of the screw-threaded member 14while the cap is held in place, thus effecting lengthwise displacementof the spring with relation to the remainder of the column. l/Vhen thecom pre'ssion of spring 60'is properly adjusted, the column cap 36 willbe capable of maintaining effective contact with the ceiling even duringperiods of extensive contraction of the column. V

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 2, the previouslydescribed cup 54, rivet 57 and sleeve 47 are replaced by an integralbracket having. an upper annular wall 18 adapted to fit the lower end ofupper tubular section 14, and a lower annular wall 19 adapted to fit theupper end of lower section 46 with a horizontal web 17 between these twoportions of the column. This horizontal web 17 is continued as. anexterior arm 21 to which may be secured an angle bar 33, which sup portsthe cross beam 38 in the same manner as portion 14 of the column, as inthe form of Fig. 1, andserves to bear the weight and pressure of the capand spring. Between this member 62 and the spring there is provided asleeve 7 O, slotted in the same manner as sleeve 39 of the device ofFig. l, to engage ears 65 and 66 on the threaded member 62. This sleeve70 has integral with its top a horizontal web 71 adapted to bear againstthe lower convolution of the spring 60, and closing the bottom of thespace occupied by the spring. Preferably the cap 37 is connected tothis-plate 71 by a rivet 73 extending loosely through a hole 74 in theplate 71 and of a length sufiicient to permit such separation of theseparts as may occur in use. The rivet 73 acts to limit the extent ofseparavent their accidental disassembly. The central upper surface ofthe cap 37 is slightly depressed to receive the head of this rivet. Sucha connection between the parts which embrace the spring permits thespring to be kept confined during the erection of the column, whereupona few turns of the rotatable member 14 will suffice to place the springunder the proper compression to compensate for contraction of thecolumn.

The modified form of cap 37 illustrated in Fig. 3 is provided with thehorizontal flange 36 and the depressed inner annular portion 36 of thecap shown in Fig. 1, and includes also a downwardly extending sleeve 75' of approximately the shape of the sleeve 39 of the cap of Fig. 1.This sleeve 75 is provided with opposite vertical slots 76 and 77extending part way down from the top of the cap. A plate 78, of circularshape and.

fitting loosely in thesleeve, is provided with laterally extending cars78 and 80 which extend through, and slide in, the two slots 76 and 77.Any suitable spring, such as indi- I .cated at 60" is confined withinthe sleeve 75,

tion of the cap and sleeve 70, and thus pre- 7 bearing at its upper endagainst the depressed 1 central portion 36* of the cap, and at itslower.

end against the plate 78.

The cap 37 just described can be substituted for the illustrated caps indevices such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sleeves 62 of ber which neednot be threaded, indicated at 80 in Fig. 3,.which bears against thelower surface of plate 78. Whenthe supporting column is positioned inplace with the cap 37 in contact with the ceiling of the room orchamber, the spring 60 is placed under compression. The spring 60" thenfunctions in the manner of the springs of the other forms of theinvention, to maintain contact of the cap and ceiling during periods ofdecreased temperature and to compensate forchanges in length of thecolumn. The cap 37" can move up and down as required, by virtue of theslots 7 6 and 77 which permit movement of the sleeve 7 5 with respect tothe plate 78 and the supporting column.

The ears 78 and 80, adapted to abut against the lower ends of the slots76 and 77, act to prevent accidental disassembly of the ceiling engagingpart and the colmun engaging plate 78, as well as to prevent escape ofthe interposed spring 60. a

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A column adapted for use in supporting refrigeratingapparatus, thecolumn including upper and lower sections having freedomfor relative rotation, the upper'section being screw-threaded,spring-supporting means threaded thereon for longitudinal adjustmentwith relation to the column, a cap adapted to contact with the ceilingof a room, and a spring positioned to react on said cap and on saidspring-supporting means, thereby to compensate for expansion andcontraction of the column under changes in temperature.

2. A device of the class described having therein, a column cap ofinverted cup shape, a coil spring disposed therein, a downwardlyextending sleeve adapted to receive the upper end of a column, saidsleeve including a horizontal web disposed to bear against the lower endof the said coil spring, and means associated with the cap for limitingthe extent of separation of the sleeve and the cap.

8. A column for use in supporting refrigerating apparatus comprisingupper and lower relatively rotatable parts, a cap associated with theupper part for engagement with the ceiling of a refrigeratingcompartment, a spring acting between said upper part and the cap forholding the latterin firm engagement with the ceiling duringlongitudinal expansion and contraction of the column due to temperaturechange, a member having threaded engagement with said upper part andreceiving the reaction of said spring, said cap having a substantiallylongitudinal groove, and a projection on said member disposed withinsaid groove, whereby the force of said spring may be varied by rotatingsaid tionv andthe cap for holdingv the-latter firm engagement with, theceiling; during long ie tudlnal' expans on and contraction of the.69ldue to tem erature, change, a member havingthreaded engagement withsaid upper portion for receiving the reaction otsaidl spring, and meansproviding for relativelongitudinal movement of this member and; the capfor holding; these parts from relative rotary movement, whereby theforce of said spring may be varied by rotating said upper part.

5. A column for use in supporting refrigerating apparatus, said columncomprising upper and lower relatively rotatable sections, bracket meansinterposed between said sections for supporting a load, the uppersection of the column including a cap vertical ly movable relativelythereto and arranged to bear against the ceiling of a room, a springinterposed between said cap and-said upper section of said column, andmeans between said cap and said upper section of said column and carriedby the latter for compressing the spring acting on said cap.

6. A column for use in supporting refrigerating apparatus, said columncomprising 7 upper and lower relatively rotatable sections,

means formaintaining said sections in substantially the same relativepositions vertically of eachother during relative rotary movement ofthese sections so that a load supported by one of these sections mayremain substantially at the same elevation during such relative rotarymovement, a cap associated with the upper of said sections and arrangedto engage the ceiling of a room, a spring interposed between said capand the upper o'fsaid sections, and means effective on rotary movementof said upper section forefiecting longitudinal adjustment of saidspring.

7 A column for use in supporting refrigcrating apparatus, said columncomprising upper and lower relatively rotatable sections, meansinterposed between said sections for supporting a load, the uppersection of the column including a ,cap vertically movable relativethereto and arranged to bear against the ceiling of a room, a springinterposed between said cap and the upper of said relatively rotatablesections, and means for longitudinally displacing said spring withrelation to said column, said means including a MEG memberscrew-threaded to the upper of said relatively rotatable sections andconnecting the spring thereto.

' 8. A column for use in supporting refrigerating apparatus, said columncomprising upper and lower relatively rotatable sections, means forsupporting a load substantially entirely from the lovver of saidrelatively rotatable sections, the upper of said relatively rotatablesections having its upper end portion screw-threaded, a collar threadedon this 7 upper end portion, a cap element adapted to contact With theceiling of a room, a-nd a springinterposed between said cap element andsaid collar to compensate for changes in temperature.

Signed by me at Everett, Mass, this 27th day of October, 1931.

' LOUIS I. BECKWITH.

